Thank
you for your fascinating Email and photos on the subject of the microcar.
From the photos it is regretfully apparent that the car is not of 1903
vintage as shown but much more modern. I note that the engine
manufacturer is stated as being Villair and that the make of the car is
stated as a Rutecraft Scooter Car. - Sorry to say, all this
information is a bit incorrect. The car is in fact a RYTECRAFT SCOOTACAR
manufactured between 1934 and 1940 by the British Motor Boat
Manufacturing Company Ltd., Kings Cross, London. The Rytecraft
Scootacar was apparently designed and produced Jack Shillan. It had
conventional styling but in miniature mimicking Vauxhalls and later
Chrysler Airflows. The first car was produced in 1934 and was powered by
a 98cc Villiers Midget engine with a top speed of 15mph (24kph). It was
a single seater, no springs, with automatic centrifugal clutch and one
speed. This was followed three years later by a two-seater car having
electric lighting and with 3 speeds and reverse, powered by 250cc
Villiers engine capable of 40mph (64kph). Original prices were £70 for
the first model and £80 for the second. Manufacturing was discontinued
in 1940 but a few cars were assembled after the war from remaining
pieces.

It seems from the photos that you have emailed that
the car has no springs and this would suggest that it was a MK 1
car built between 1934 and 1937. This is confirmed by the car having a
single control pedal on the floor which acts as both an accelerator and
brake. It does seem to have small electric lights so it was probably
manufactured at the later part of that period; hence 1936 would probably
be about the right date. None of the cars in any manual I have seen had
proper big headlights because the car was never used as a 'serious' road
going car. It was mainly used as a dodgem car in fun fairs, as a
children's training car, and as a midget road runabout. There was also a commercial
version called the 'scootatruck'.

The current value and the market may be limited
mainly because the Rytecraft was not a full size 'serious road car' and
therefore has limited uses. Contacts with UK vintage car dealers suggest
a UK Purchase Price of approximately £2,000 - 3,000 (UK Pounds
Sterling) ex India as it would be bought sight unseen and would have to
be transported and there could well be 5% VAT charged on its
import price and the shipping costs. A collector might well pay much
more but you need to find him. We are not aware of how this price would
compare with prices in India.

There are still some of these cars running. I can
confirm having traced at least one working Rytecraft. This
vehicle is a part of an exhibition at the Ramsgate Motor Museum. In the
meantime I have spoken to a UK Vintage Car Dealer who currently has a
very similar trainer car for sale. His car was manufactured in
approximately 1940 and is an Italian version of the same type of trainer
car, even using the same type of Villiers engine. Although named a
Behielved, this could well be a Rytecraft with an Italian body. It may
have been constructed by, but it was certainly used by Alfa Romeo to
give their clients instructions on car control and road sense. The car
is currently for sale at approximately £2,500. If interested in either
car please contact us and we will pass on all the enquiries.